Utilise Plus Event Report: Sustainability Tour of Splashpoint Leisure Centre, Worthing

Delegates made their way to Worthing seafront on a December morning for a Sustainability Tour of Splashpoint Leisure Centre. The event was held as part of the Sustainable Business Partnership CIC’s Utilise Plus programme, which helps small and medium sized enterprises to reduce their costs and Greenhouse Gas emissions by saving energy.

The SBP CIC’s Jack Dale introduced the event and gave an overview of Utilise Plus and the services it offers, including fully-funded energy audits, grant funding, and a variety of events. Jack then handed over to Duncan Anderson, CEO of South Downs Leisure. Duncan outlined Splashpoint’s approach to sustainability and their impressive array of technologies that help them save energy. These include a ground source heat pump, air handling units to recycle heat in the air, LED lighting with motion sensors, water saving taps, zone heating to reduce heat waste, and movable floors in their swimming pools to retain heat overnight – all managed with building management systems! In addition to these technologies, Duncan explained how they encourage behavioural changes in staff and customers, from printing dual-sided, making recycling as easy as possible, and offering a discount on hot drinks when using a reusable eco-cup. Duncan acknowledged that there is always more that can be done. In 2019, he plans on implementing solar panels and looking into how the by-product from their ground source heat pump can be used to heat their swimming pools.

After Duncan’s talk, it was time for the behind-the-scenes tour! Led by Splashpoint’s engineer, Terry Gough, we started off in the plant room before moving onto the roof where Splashpoint keeps its beehives which are looked after by Terry. Next, we took a look at the swimming pools from up high before diving down underground below the pools where we got to see their UV filtration system up close!  After the tour, the event ended with networking over light refreshments, with many delegates keen to find out more from Duncan and Terry.

This event was fully-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). At the Sustainable Business Partnership CIC, we love hearing from passionate speakers, exciting venues, and enthusiastic event partners. If you’d like to work with us then please get in touch.